New Jersey ‘Make-A-Wish’ Teen Records Song (VIDEO)

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — What’s it like to have a professionally recorded song that you wrote and performed played in front of a crowd of 500 people? Just ask Make-A-Wish recipient Alana Essien of South Plainfield.

Essien, who has been diagnosed with Neuromyelitis optica, also known as Devic's disease, got the chance to become a professional recording artist this summer. Working with Grammy Award-winning producer Mikkel Eriksen of Stargate and lyricist Sasha Sloan in Los Angeles, Essien recorded her original song, “Dashiki Woman,” which aired on 104.3 FM in Los Angeles.

The teen then returned to her home state of New Jersey last month and got a chance to watch her music being played for a huge crowd of fans during Make-A-Wish New Jersey’s recent “Walk For Wishes” event at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

The event raised more than $75,000, which will fund future wishes for New Jersey children fighting the same “life-threatening” battles as Essien, Make-A-Wish New Jersey stated.

Watch a video of Essien’s mother, Bernice, speaking about her condition and story below.

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Photo/Video: Make-A-Wish New Jersey